The Wind God's Plea for a World in Crisis

Li Guanrong, a spirit who has served as a Wind God for over twelve hundred years, sought spiritual deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Having witnessed the profound suffering of humanity and the ongoing degradation of the natural environment, he arrived at the Centre to offer his services and seek liberation. This interview was recorded on March 15, 2021, at the Centre.

The Wind God, Li Guanrong, speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. A great gust of wind blows—whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—the Wind God, Li Guanrong, has arrived! Working in coordination with the Rain God, the Thunder God, and the Lightning God, we each perform our duties at our respective stations. As we began our work, rain started to fall around the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. I witnessed the Jade Emperor himself descend upon this place, and I knew immediately that this location was unlike any other. Looking up, I saw golden light erupting everywhere, with countless heavenly soldiers and generals standing guard to protect this sacred site. Once my task of whipping up the winds was complete, I did not leave. Instead, I joined the many other spirits here, lining up to wait for the opportunity to seek Spiritual Deliverance."

A Life of Service and Sorrow

"In my twelve hundred years as a Wind God, I have observed the myriad states of existence. Life is constantly forming and dissolving, only to form again—a cycle from which there is no escape. My time is running out; in another three hundred years, I must transition to another realm. As for where that will be, it is not for me to decide. Therefore, I cherish every single day I spend as the Wind God, performing my duties with the utmost sincerity. Watching the world constantly change, I feel a profound sense of lament. The rise and fall of dynasties, the ups and downs of human life, the peace and the disasters, the conflicts and the betrayals—all of it is caused by the human heart. Why do I see human life so clearly? It is because I was once persecuted in exactly such an environment.

Before I became the Wind God, I was a eunuch in the imperial palace. My family was so poor they could not afford to feed me, and I was forced to leave home to serve in the palace. I was about fifteen years old when I entered. I was quite handsome, and to prevent any complications, they had me castrated. The very moment I was taken into the castration room, I knew that my life had no other path."

The Art of Tea and the Weight of Envy

"When I first arrived, the Chief Eunuch, seeing that I was young, did not assign me heavy labor. Instead, he sent me to the tea room to sort and bag the tea. These were precious teas offered to the palace by various officials and foreign states. I had to know every single variety. Whenever the Emperor requested a specific tea, I had to produce it instantly. I had to know how to brew each one perfectly so that the flavor would linger on the palate. I had to experiment daily to learn the ideal water temperature and the exact steeping time to extract the flavor without bitterness. An experienced old eunuch in the tea room gave me a rough description of these techniques, but I had to master the rest through trial and error. There were thousands of teas in the palace, and I discovered that different types could influence one's mood—some brought a sense of stability and composure, while others were uplifting and clarifying.

Every day, eunuchs would come to announce what the Emperor wanted to drink. Just as I started the fire, another would arrive: 'Consort Wang wants a refreshing tea.' Then another would whisper: 'Noble Lady Shen is carrying the imperial heir; she wants something gentle and smooth that won't harm the baby.' Three or four eunuchs would arrive in a single morning, all demanding their orders by a specific time. I would scan the room, quickly select the appropriate porcelain, warm the cups, and find the right drawers for the tea leaves. I prepared everything with precision. The Emperor and his consorts were so impressed that they summoned me to the throne room to discuss the art of tea. After I explained the details of my work, the Emperor exclaimed: 'Excellent! You are truly a talent.' I became a favorite of the Emperor; whenever new tea arrived, he would have me brew it for him."

The Price of Success and the Final Journey

"I lived a quiet, peaceful life in the tea house, but once I gained the Emperor's favor, I felt the gaze of hostile eyes. Many came to the tea house just to watch me work. I wanted to live in peace, but rumors began to spread—slanderous claims that I was secretly brewing the most expensive teas for my own enjoyment. These accusations hit me like stones. I did not know how to defend myself. Having spent years in the palace, I had witnessed countless schemes and betrayals; I knew that human nature is driven by self-preservation. Over the years, I had saved some silver and received precious gifts from the Emperor, enough for my family and me to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. I petitioned the Emperor to let me return home to care for my aging parents. At first, he refused, as no one else could brew tea like I did. I promised to train successors, and he provided me with two apprentices. I spent two years teaching them everything I knew until they could brew tea to the Emperor's satisfaction. Only then did he allow me to resign.

I had entered the palace at fifteen and left at fifty. I headed toward my hometown with my savings, unsure if my parents were still alive. Shortly after leaving the palace, while still in the outskirts, I was intercepted by a group of masked men. I shouted, 'Who goes there?' One replied, 'Do not ask. Today is your death day.' I was shocked by what was happening, but I knew I could not escape this fate. I became a soul under the blade, a wandering spirit drifting in space. I felt no hatred, nor did I seek to know who killed me. My heart told me: 'I am already dead; there is no need to fight.'"

Awakening in the Void

"I did not know where to go after death, so my spirit drifted with the wind. I saw a massive dark cloud filled with weeping women, most of whom were suffering from emotional pain. I encouraged them to pull themselves together, to step out of their past frameworks and memories. As I spoke to them, their hearts gradually shifted, and the dark clouds turned to gray; their suffering began to fade.

Drifting with the wind, I came to a grassland that had withered from drought, where all the beings were wailing. As the wind and I passed through, I encouraged them: 'Look, the wind has arrived, and the rain may be right behind us. You must keep your spirits up and be of one heart.' I was right. Shortly after we passed, the rain came, relieving the suffering of the land. In the rivers, I saw big fish eating small fish; humans trampling the earth; the earth filled with countless insects. I asked myself: 'Which of these is real?' When I realized that nothing in this world is truly real, I began to shout as I drifted with the wind: 'Everyone, wake up! Everyone, wake up!' I used all my strength to call out. Some spirits in space or of the earth would look up at the sky when I shouted. Although some were awakened, they could not escape the space they were trapped in—the goose remained a goose, the bird a bird, the water droplet a water droplet. My method was limited by time and space, yet I still held the desire to help others.

After drifting for over a hundred years, a light guided me. I was given a cloak, and I became a Wind God. I requested to be stationed in the most suffering desert regions. When rain was scarce, I would blow through the desert, becoming playmates with the sand. When the rain finally came, I would coordinate with the Rain, Lightning, and Thunder Gods. The rare rain would wash the desert clean, cooling the scorching earth. Everyone would cheer with joy, and seeing their happiness made me happy. Most of the time, however, I blew hot winds to match the environment. Later, I was stationed in the frozen zones, where the rain turns to snow. It took time to adjust, but I told myself: 'Wherever I go, I will do my duty.' In recent years, I have watched the frozen icebergs shrink, and my heart is filled with anxiety. I know this is caused by the karma created by the human world. Humans destroy the environment out of greed, yet they have not awakened. In the future, the environment will strike back. When I see these future visions, I start shouting again: 'Humans, wake up! Humans, wake up!' No matter how fiercely I blow the wind, no one in the human world listens. Watching wave after wave of retribution—earthquakes, tsunamis, and now this pandemic—have humans finally awakened?"

A Sanctuary for the World

"Holding onto the desire to help humanity, I was summoned to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. When I felt the magnetic field emitted from this place, I knew it was a true place for saving the world. Here, there is a mission to bring rain. When it was my turn to perform, I did not hesitate. I used all my strength, blowing the wind while shedding tears of gratitude. After the heavy rain, the beings here became vibrant and active. I hovered in mid-air, watching the efforts being made to turn the Earth around, to resolve disasters, and to restore the four seasons. I requested to join in this effort, and if allowed, I would fulfill my wish to help all beings.

I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for her compassion and for the blessings of the void. Today, I chant Namo Amituofo, and my heart is filled with profound emotion."

This interview was recorded by the Buddhist disciple Shi Faxin.

Memorial Tablet: For the Wind God who assisted in bringing rain to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, and all his connected beings, uncountable, represented by Li Guanrong.

Entering the Western Dharma-Nature Land at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Namo Amituofo.